Intuition, diligence, and meticulousness
Klaus Wloemer has examined the role of music in the work of the folk writer Josef Reinhart and compiled a detailed catalog of the musical settings of his poems.
Among the most frequently set-to-music dialect poetry of Northern Switzerland, the works of Sophie Haemmerli-Marti (1868–1942) and Josef Reinhart (1875–1957) stand out in the cantons of Aargau and Solothurn. While research on the musical settings of the Aargau poet’s works is still in its early stages, an extremely detailed and comprehensive catalog of those by her colleague is now available. It was compiled by Klaus Wloemer, who has combined it with a detailed study on the role of music in Reinhart’s literary work.
This 954-page, literally very weighty publication is Wloemers’ dissertation, expanded by two chapters—a painstaking work with a multi-part appendix (sources and bibliography) of impressive thoroughness. For example, for the musical settings documented from 1897 to the present, the text lists—before the incipit—not only the time signatures, keys, and number of measures, but also the vocal range and specific details such as alterations to the melody and harmonization.
Visiting Reinhart's Descendants
The account of Reinhart’s relationship to music is supported by and annotated with countless quotations. The source texts for the poems set to music are described in detail and with meticulous care. These are listed in alphabetical order—not by song title, but by the opening lines of the text. The index of persons is followed by a chronological table of Reinhart’s poems with precise source citations.
With the keenest of instincts, the author unearthed settings of Reinhart’s poems by 161 male composers and 8 female composers in the most remote corners. Stephanie Bühlmann (soprano), Daniel Behle (tenor), and Benjamin Engeli (piano) present a small but substantial selection on the CD Hei cho, Dialect Songs Based on Poems by Josef Reinhart (Solo Musica SM 464).
Klaus Wloemer, himself a Christ Catholic priest, feels a special connection to the poet, who converted from Catholicism to the Christ Catholic Church. He was also a guest of Josef Reinhart’s descendants at their home in Solothurn. Wloemer devotes a special chapter to Josef Reinhart and music in the Christ Catholic Church of Switzerland.
Klaus Wloemer: Josef Reinhart and Music. The Role of Music in His Literary Work, 954 pp., Fr. 128.00, Schwabe, Basel 2025, ISBN 978-3-7965-5351-6
